Snapshot (most-asked)

Saudi passport only, tourist visit: Visa-free 30 days on arrival (needs passport valid 6+ months, onward/return ticket, & eTravel registration).
Extendable inside the Philippines at the Bureau of Immigration (BI): first to 59 days, then in 1– or 2–/6-month tranches up to a maximum of 36 months continuous stay for visa-waiver nationals.
If entering with a parent who is a former Filipino: may request Balikbayan privilege = 1-year visa-free stay (conditions below).
Unaccompanied or traveling with a non-parent adult and under 15: needs a Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG) at the port (paperwork + fee).
Stays >59 days require an ACR I-Card; stays >6 months require an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) before departure.
Alternative: apply for a 9(a) Temporary Visitor Visa at a Philippine Embassy/Consulate before travel for an initial stay of up to 59 days (then extend in-country as needed).

1) Visa Policy for Saudi Nationals (Tourism)

Visa-Free Entry (standard)

Saudi passport holders are visa-exempt for 30 days for tourism/business. Requirements on arrival:

Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay.
Onward/return ticket (or proof of onward travel).
eTravel registration (one per traveler; parents can complete for minors).
No derogatory records (immigration discretion always applies).
Evidence of sufficient funds and accommodation may be requested.

Length of stay & in-country extensions

Initial stay: 30 days.
First extension: to 59 days (either at BI field office after arrival; in some ports the 29-day extension to 59 may be offered).
Subsequent extensions: 1-month, 2-month, or 6-month tranches up to a cumulative maximum of 36 months for nationals admitted visa-free.
Overstay penalties: daily fines, extension fees, and possible blacklist; settle at BI before departure.

ACR I-Card & ECC

ACR I-Card (Alien Certificate of Registration): required once stay exceeds 59 days (issued by BI during extension).
ECC (Emigration Clearance Certificate): required before exiting the Philippines if the foreign visitor’s stay exceeded 6 months on that visit (secure at BI main/field office a few days before departure or at designated airport desks if eligible).

2) Balikbayan Privilege (1-Year Visa-Free)

A Saudi child traveling together with a parent who is a former Filipino citizen may request the Balikbayan privilege at the airport:

Result: One (1) year visa-free stay stamped on arrival.
Show: The parent’s foreign passport plus proof of former Philippine citizenship (e.g., old Philippine passport or birth certificate), and the child’s passport. Both must arrive together and present themselves to the Immigration Officer.
Notes: Not convertible to permanent residence by itself; extensions beyond 1 year follow BI rules. If the accompanying parent is a current Filipino citizen, consider whether the child is also Filipino by blood (see Section 5).

3) Under-15 Minor Rules (Waiver of Exclusion Ground)

Under the Philippine Immigration Act, children below 15 not traveling with either parent (or a parent legally recognized) are excludable unless admitted under a Waiver of Exclusion Ground (WEG).

WEG needed when:
- The child is unaccompanied, or
- Traveling only with a non-parent adult (grandparent, relative, nanny, family friend).
WEG documents (bring originals + copies):
- Notarized parental affidavit of consent & support naming the accompanying adult and authorizing travel & guardianship during the visit;
- Passport of the child and ID of consenting parent(s);
- Child’s birth certificate (to prove parentage/authority);
- Onward/return ticket, accommodation, contact details in PH;
- WEG fee payable at the port (plus processing).
No WEG required when the child arrives with either parent (have the birth certificate ready to prove relationship, especially if surnames differ).

Consularization/Apostille: Affidavits executed abroad should be notarized and apostilled (or consularized) for acceptance at the Philippine border.

4) Pre-arranged Visa Option (9(a) Temporary Visitor Visa)

Families preferring a longer initial stay may apply for a 9(a) visa at a Philippine Embassy/Consulate before travel:

Initial grant: commonly 59 days single or multiple entry (mission policies vary).
Extensions: continue at BI in the Philippines, same maximum 36 months cumulative stay for visa-waiver nationals.
Who benefits: children who will attend short courses, stay with family for several months, or who want to avoid frequent extension visits.

5) If the Child Has a Filipino Parent (Citizenship Angle)

A child with a Filipino parent is generally a Philippine citizen by birth (jus sanguinis). Implications:

The child does not need a visa to enter or stay as a Filipino; instead, secure Philippine documentation:
- PSA birth certificate listing the Filipino parent (if born in PH), or
- Report of Birth via a Philippine embassy/consulate (if born abroad), then
- Philippine passport.
If the child currently holds only a Saudi passport and is already in the Philippines, the family can apply with the Bureau of Immigration for Recognition as a Filipino and later a PH passport.
DSWD Travel Clearance rules apply only to Filipino minors departing the Philippines without parents; they do not apply to purely foreign minors.

If the child is not a Philippine citizen (no Filipino parent / not recognized), all foreign-minor rules herein apply.

6) Health, Travel, and Administrative Notes

eTravel: Register within the designated window prior to arrival; one parent may register dependents/minors on the same form.
Travel tax: Levied on Philippine citizens and residents; foreign tourists are generally not subject.
Vaccinations: No routine yellow-fever requirement from Saudi Arabia; carry routine immunization records and travel insurance.
School or extended programs: BI may ask for proof of purpose (e.g., enrollment letter) when pursuing long extensions.

7) Practical Scenarios (What to Show at the Airport/BI)

A. Saudi child, 10, visiting grandparents for 45 days with both parents

Visa-free 30 days on arrival → extend to 59 days at BI within the first month. Bring passports, filled extension form, and fees.

B. Saudi child, 13, flying with grandmother only for 3 weeks

Prepare WEG packet: apostilled parental consent & support, child’s birth certificate, round-trip ticket, grandmother’s passport copy. Pay WEG fee at the airport.

C. Saudi child, 7, traveling with a parent who is a former Filipino for a 4-month stay

Request Balikbayan on arrival → 1-year stamp; show parent’s proof of former Philippine citizenship and both passports.

D. Saudi child, 15, planning a 5-month language course

Apply for 9(a) 59-day visa at the consulate before travel; in the Philippines, extend at BI (expect ACR I-Card after 59 days).

8) Fees & Compliance Milestones (rule-of-thumb)

First extension to 59 days: government fees + possible express/ACR (if >59).
ACR I-Card: issued at/after the >59-day mark; carry it with the passport.
Subsequent extensions: choose 1/2/6-month blocks—plan around school breaks/return flights.
ECC: apply several days before departure once stay >6 months (or follow airport ECC desk guidance where eligible).

9) Do’s and Don’ts

Carry birth certificate to prove relation to accompanying parent/guardian.
Keep printed copies of eTravel QR, tickets, hotel/host address, and consent letters.
Extend before visa expiry; BI allows early filing.

Don’t

Assume WEG isn’t needed for a child <15 data-preserve-html-node="true" traveling with a non-parent adult—prepare it.
Overstay; penalties escalate and can lead to blacklisting.

Key Takeaways

A Saudi child may enter visa-free for 30 days, extendable up to 36 months with periodic BI extensions; an ACR I-Card (>59 days) and ECC (>6 months) are part of long-stay compliance.
WEG is required for unaccompanied or non-parent-accompanied foreign minors under 15; not required when with a parent.
Traveling with a former Filipino parent unlocks a 1-year Balikbayan stamp on arrival.
If the child has a Filipino parent, consider documenting Philippine citizenship instead of relying on visas.

If you’d like, I can turn this into a one-page airport checklist (per scenario) and a WEG consent template you can fill and apostille before travel.